Charging Cars and Thatched Properties
Charging cars and thatched properties has been a recent interesting conversation. We have been in communication with a thatched property owner in his attempt to secure insurance for his thatched cottage whilst also being able to charge his electric car.
Not a subject which has been raised before but now it has it raises many questions. Is this issue just for thatched properties? It seems not, per the conversations we have had with those we know charging their electric cars at home.
We will stick to charging cars and thatched properties’ insurance cover for this article. Logically, we asked our specialist thatch insurers for some feedback on this topic.
Thatch Insurers’ Responses
Here are the replies we have received from some of our specialist thatch insurance Associates:
County Insurance
Our thatched home products would cover fire / explosion damage as a result of an electric vehicle being charged at the home address, as long as the vehicle is being charged as per the manufacturers instructions for the vehicle & any charging cables or accessories. Clients should check if there are any specific electric vehicle exclusions or conditions in respect of the fire peril in the buildings section of their home policy wording but if none apply then cover should be provided as above.
Lloyd and Whyte
If your EV charger is hard-wired to your building, the coverage will fall under your Thatched Home Insurance. If it is a portable device, it will usually be insured under your Motor Insurance policy.
Should a liability claim arise because a third-party (person) tripped over the charger cable at your property, personal liability insurance under your Home Insurance should come into effect. If an incident related to the charger takes place in a public place, then motor liability insurance can potentially cover damages.
When installing a hard-wired charger, it’s strongly advised you inform your insurer of your new addition.
The Home Insurer
Charging cars and thatch insurance is not complicated. All you need to do is have a valid EIC for the property, which includes the charger (which has been correctly fitted by a suitably qualified engineer) and submit that to your broker/insurer for approval. The Home Insurer finds this is normally accepted without any fees or costs.
If you are particularly worried about car charging and thatch property, then ask your broker to note your statement of fact, including the capacity of the charger. But it’s really the EIC including the charger that does the heavy lifting here.
Brown & Brown
Installing an electric vehicle charger can affect your home insurance, especially if your property has a thatched roof. Chargers can be treated as fixtures and fittings, but cover varies between insurers, so it’s essential to check your policy wording, limits and exclusions. Often cables, plugs and attachments are not covered and some exclude altogether. Correct installation, use and maintenance in line with manufacturer’s guidance is essential for thatched homes, as fire risk is higher and damage can be severe. We recommend speaking to a specialist insurance broker to ensure you are properly covered.
Thatch Cover
As electric vehicles become popular, thatched homeowners face a unique challenge: safely charging without jeopardising property or insurance.
From an insurance perspective, underwriting stances vary between providers. Given this disparity and the grey area that exists with what home and car insurers cover in the event of a claim – it’s a good idea to get some advice on setup, before the installation of an EV charger.
As with all risk factors, the more insurers that can be approached for any given home, the better the chance in finding the right fit policy at the best rate.
In Conclusion
Finally we would like to say many thanks for the contributions and insights received about charging cars and thatched property insurance from our specialist thatch insurance Associates.
What about charging other things we wonder?….. but that is probably another story!